The four-episode “Virgin Galactic,” premiering in the spring, will depict Branson and engineer Burt Rutan’s efforts to create a business that will send 50,000 people into space over a 10-year period.

In addition, Nat Geo announced four specials for the coming year, including “Space Dive,” a two-hour BBC production telling the story of Felix Baumgartner’s attempt to set a height record for balloon travel that will be topped off by a jump to earth.